Knowledge

Charlie Williams (comedian)

Source 📝

394:
You have to understand that was perfect for the time that he appeared. It was a brilliant thing, this black Yorkshireman who played football with Doncaster Rovers, who'd had the wartime experience of white Yorkshire people, who talked like them, who thought like them, but who just happened to be
367:, he played for the first team in 1950 and became the first Black player to represent Doncaster Rovers when he made his debut in a home game against Tranmere Rovers on 3rd May that year. He then remained in the reserves until 1955, when he became an established first team player for four years. 395:
black. And when he came along it was astounding to hear this bloke talking like "Eh up, flower, eh. Hey, have you ever been to supermarket where they have the broken biscuits?". I think it was a huge culture shock for people. And Charlie exploited this to the full.
415:, but it was his comic chat between the songs that was best received, so he decided to move into comedy full-time. He eventually became Britain's first well-known black television comedian. He came to prominence from 1971, when he began appearing regularly on 538:, along with hostess Wendy King, for a six-month period from late 1973 to early 1974, although he often struggled to hold together a fast moving live show, and it ultimately had a detrimental effect on his career. 560:
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, his brand of humour was becoming old-fashioned, and his career declined. He caused offence to some, and was praised by others, for defending the
1401: 42: 316:, his father settled in Royston, where he sold groceries from a horse and cart, and married a local woman, Frances Cook. His father had been forced to give up his job as a 1143: 1089: 1371: 898: 385:
He married twice. He was first married to Audrey Crump on 1 April 1957. They had two children. He later married a second time, to Janice, who survived him.
554: 1391: 1107: 448:
by saying: "If you don't shut up, I'll come and move in next door to you". Like other popular comedians of his era, his comedy included jokes about "
1416: 638:
in 2000, where it was recognised that he had "broken down barriers". In 2004, he was voted Doncaster Rovers' "all-time cult hero" by viewers of the
1136: 851: 1396: 1356: 1129: 298: 1361: 1386: 1094: 374:
on 24 March 1956. In his own words, "I was never a fancy player, but I could stop them buggers that were." He ended his career with
1431: 571: 1426: 1421: 962: 1376: 1250: 1381: 1406: 1346: 480: 364: 1411: 1366: 1116: 833: 775: 20: 421:. The show broadcast stand-up routines from relatively unknown but often very experienced club comedians, including 1351: 116: 893: 417: 379: 255: 48: 614: 470:
He reached the pinnacle of his comedy career in the early 1970s. In 1972, he spent a six-month season at the
747: 1104: 594: 434: 325: 634:"for charitable services to the community in Yorkshire." He was given a lifetime achievement award at the 1235: 1215: 627: 227: 32: 1190: 1185: 1025: 1005: 848: 493: 370:
He played 171 times for Rovers in total, but scored only one goal, in a Second Division game away to
19:
This article is about the British comedian. For other people called Charles or Charlie Williams, see
1290: 515:. He was popular enough at this time to be featured as the star of his own one page comic strip in 286: 89: 792: 679: 444:
Williams' comedy was often at his own expense, and particularly his colour. He used to respond to
1195: 1121: 923: 675: 985: 453: 449: 1255: 813: 649: 1270: 1152: 631: 526: 412: 411:
Following his retirement from football in 1959, Williams tried his hand as a singer in local
352: 336: 260: 188: 1341: 1336: 459:
Nevertheless, he was a role model for a new generation of British black comedians, such as
231: 206: 712: 8: 752: 550: 489: 344: 145: 131: 1051: 990: 874: 375: 250: 1084: 829: 771: 426: 360: 1275: 937: 521: 471: 340: 274: 239: 1305: 1295: 1175: 1111: 902: 860: 855: 817: 534: 430: 313: 306: 294: 265: 243: 93: 1310: 1220: 825: 644: 561: 485: 356: 919: 1330: 1240: 1230: 1210: 964:
Charlie Williams – You Can't Help Liking.......Charlie Williams (1973, Vinyl)
508: 438: 371: 235: 1099: 1300: 1280: 1265: 1245: 684: 422: 1260: 1225: 1205: 1200: 1180: 1170: 609: 464: 460: 400: 321: 317: 270: 1285: 1080: 567: 1010: 717: 530: 516: 120: 1055: 879: 564: 542: 348: 331:
After leaving school aged 14 (when, according to his autobiography
302: 290: 1151: 230:(23 December 1927 – 2 September 2006) was an English professional 41: 1029: 445: 546: 467:, growing up in the 1970s, when almost all others were white. 812: 557:, which had severed all ties with the Rhodesian government. 504: 652:
in his later life, and died on 2 September 2006, aged 78.
906: 639: 938:"Charlie Williams [UK] Discography - UK - 45cat" 545:, and appeared before audiences at packed nightclubs in 822:
Windrush – The Irresistible Rise of Multiracial Britain
405:
Windrush – The Irresistible Rise of Multiracial Britain
1402:
Sportspeople from the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley
597:. In 1973, he also had an album issued by the label, 437:
and his first-hand experience of life in the British
1154:
Doncaster Rovers F.C. – Hall of Fame inductees
1090:
Doncaster Rovers – Famous Players – Charlie Williams
242:, and later became Britain's first well-known black 351:team, before turning professional, and signing for 280: 1328: 770:. Leicester: Conker Editions. pp. 168–169. 585:In 1972 and 1973 Williams released two singles, 994:(1st supplement). 31 December 1998. p. 23. 555:unilaterally declared independence from Britain 433:. The novel combination of a black man with a 1137: 599:You Can't Help Liking.......Charlie Williams 525:comic at this time. He was also the host of 743: 741: 739: 737: 735: 733: 731: 729: 727: 574:should conform to the British way of life. 217:*Club domestic league appearances and goals 1392:Members of the Order of the British Empire 1372:Deaths from Parkinson's disease in England 1144: 1130: 765: 671: 669: 667: 665: 478:, on Granada Television; was a subject on 166: 40: 628:Member of the Order of the British Empire 249:He became famous from his appearances on 1095:Black British History – Charlie Williams 984: 724: 499:In 1973, he presented a one-off special 297:. His father, also Charles, had come to 1044: 1018: 912: 806: 708: 706: 704: 702: 700: 698: 696: 694: 662: 577:He retired after a final tour in 1995. 335:, his father died), Williams worked at 1329: 1165: 926:from the original on 21 December 2021. 867: 388: 238:players in British football after the 1125: 1417:Men's association football defenders 1397:People from Royston, South Yorkshire 691: 604:In 1974, he released the pop single 324:acquired in France, and depended on 174: 1357:English people of Barbadian descent 1105:BBC Guide to Comedy – The Comedians 1052:"Comic Charlie Williams dies at 78" 875:"Comic Charlie Williams dies at 78" 13: 766:Hern, Bill; Gleave, David (2020). 648:programme. Williams suffered from 14: 1443: 1362:Sportspeople of Barbadian descent 1074: 793:"Doncaster Rovers player details" 790: 1387:Footballers from South Yorkshire 572:immigrants to the United Kingdom 355:in 1948, having also considered 1432:English Football League players 1100:Charlie Williams Donny Joke Box 998: 977: 955: 930: 273:, "me old flower" in his broad 1427:21st-century English comedians 1422:20th-century English comedians 887: 842: 784: 759: 281:Early life and football career 46:Charlie Williams appearing on 16:English footballer (1927–2006) 1: 1377:Doncaster Rovers F.C. players 655: 621: 580: 347:. He played football for the 1407:Skegness Town A.F.C. players 1347:Black British male comedians 922:. YouTube. 31 October 2011. 289:, a small mining village in 7: 1412:Upton Colliery F.C. players 553:government of Rhodesia had 484:, when he was surprised by 10: 1448: 587:That's what I shoulda said 474:; presented his own show, 18: 1382:English men's footballers 1161: 1006:"Doncaster's cult heroes" 895:The Charlie Williams Show 768:Football's Black Pioneers 626:Williams was appointed a 612:label, a song taken from 541:In 1976, Williams toured 494:Royal Variety Performance 234:who was one of the first 224:Charles Adolphus Williams 216: 200: 182: 156: 151: 144: 142: 137: 130: 127: 115: 112: 103: 100: 88: 85: 73: 70: 66:Charles Adolphus Williams 65: 62: 57: 39: 1367:Comedians from Yorkshire 1352:Black British sportsmen 1026:"Charlie Williams dies" 901:25 January 2007 at the 513:Ee-I've Had Some Laughs 441:made him unmistakable. 333:Ee-I've Had Some Laughs 1117:Ayup! Magazine tribute 854:8 October 2006 at the 570:, and for saying that 492:; and appeared at the 409: 305:, and enlisted in the 632:1999 New Year Honours 501:Charlie Williams Show 476:It's Charlie Williams 392: 285:Williams was born in 1110:25 June 2007 at the 1014:. 16 September 2004. 593:(1973), released on 549:. At that time, the 339:Colliery during the 58:Personal information 883:. 3 September 2006. 864:, 4 September 2006. 756:, 4 September 2006. 753:The Daily Telegraph 721:, 4 September 2006. 688:, 4 September 2006. 650:Parkinson's disease 636:Black Comedy Awards 615:The Good Companions 551:white minority rule 507:, and published an 490:Batley Variety Club 413:working men's clubs 389:Showbusiness career 345:reserved occupation 326:National Assistance 36: 1058:. 3 September 2006 1032:. 3 September 2006 991:The London Gazette 251:Granada Television 28: 1324: 1323: 481:This Is Your Life 361:Nottingham Forest 269:, delivering his 244:stand-up comedian 221: 220: 35: 1439: 1167: 1155: 1146: 1139: 1132: 1123: 1122: 1081:Charlie Williams 1068: 1067: 1065: 1063: 1048: 1042: 1041: 1039: 1037: 1022: 1016: 1015: 1002: 996: 995: 981: 975: 974: 973: 971: 959: 953: 952: 950: 948: 934: 928: 927: 916: 910: 909:Guide to Comedy. 891: 885: 884: 871: 865: 846: 840: 839: 810: 804: 803: 801: 799: 788: 782: 781: 763: 757: 745: 722: 710: 689: 673: 522:Shiver and Shake 472:London Palladium 435:Yorkshire accent 407: 353:Doncaster Rovers 341:Second World War 275:Yorkshire accent 240:Second World War 203: 189:Doncaster Rovers 185: 176: 168: 107: 104:2 September 2006 81:23 December 1927 80: 78: 44: 37: 31: 29:Charlie Williams 27: 21:Charles Williams 1447: 1446: 1442: 1441: 1440: 1438: 1437: 1436: 1327: 1326: 1325: 1320: 1157: 1153: 1150: 1112:Wayback Machine 1077: 1072: 1071: 1061: 1059: 1050: 1049: 1045: 1035: 1033: 1024: 1023: 1019: 1004: 1003: 999: 982: 978: 969: 967: 961: 960: 956: 946: 944: 936: 935: 931: 920:"Rhodesia 1976" 918: 917: 913: 903:Wayback Machine 892: 888: 873: 872: 868: 861:The Independent 856:Wayback Machine 847: 843: 836: 818:Trevor Phillips 811: 807: 797: 795: 789: 785: 778: 764: 760: 746: 725: 711: 692: 676:Bourne, Stephen 674: 663: 658: 624: 583: 535:The Golden Shot 431:Bernard Manning 408: 399: 391: 320:as a result of 314:First World War 307:Royal Engineers 295:south Yorkshire 283: 266:The Golden Shot 201: 183: 105: 94:South Yorkshire 76: 74: 53: 30: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1445: 1435: 1434: 1429: 1424: 1419: 1414: 1409: 1404: 1399: 1394: 1389: 1384: 1379: 1374: 1369: 1364: 1359: 1354: 1349: 1344: 1339: 1322: 1321: 1319: 1318: 1313: 1308: 1303: 1298: 1293: 1288: 1283: 1278: 1273: 1268: 1263: 1258: 1253: 1248: 1243: 1238: 1233: 1228: 1223: 1218: 1213: 1208: 1203: 1198: 1193: 1188: 1183: 1178: 1173: 1168: 1162: 1159: 1158: 1149: 1148: 1141: 1134: 1126: 1120: 1119: 1114: 1102: 1097: 1092: 1087: 1076: 1075:External links 1073: 1070: 1069: 1043: 1017: 997: 976: 954: 929: 911: 886: 866: 841: 834: 826:Harper-Collins 814:Phillips, Mike 805: 783: 776: 758: 723: 690: 660: 659: 657: 654: 645:Football Focus 623: 620: 582: 579: 486:Eamonn Andrews 397: 390: 387: 380:Midland League 282: 279: 219: 218: 214: 213: 211: 209: 204: 198: 197: 194: 191: 186: 180: 179: 170: 163: 158: 154: 153: 152:Senior career* 149: 148: 146:Upton Colliery 143: 140: 139: 135: 134: 129: 125: 124: 114: 113:Place of death 110: 109: 108:(aged 78) 102: 98: 97: 87: 86:Place of birth 83: 82: 72: 68: 67: 64: 60: 59: 55: 54: 45: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1444: 1433: 1430: 1428: 1425: 1423: 1420: 1418: 1415: 1413: 1410: 1408: 1405: 1403: 1400: 1398: 1395: 1393: 1390: 1388: 1385: 1383: 1380: 1378: 1375: 1373: 1370: 1368: 1365: 1363: 1360: 1358: 1355: 1353: 1350: 1348: 1345: 1343: 1340: 1338: 1335: 1334: 1332: 1317: 1314: 1312: 1309: 1307: 1304: 1302: 1299: 1297: 1294: 1292: 1289: 1287: 1284: 1282: 1279: 1277: 1274: 1272: 1269: 1267: 1264: 1262: 1259: 1257: 1254: 1252: 1249: 1247: 1244: 1242: 1239: 1237: 1234: 1232: 1229: 1227: 1224: 1222: 1219: 1217: 1214: 1212: 1209: 1207: 1204: 1202: 1199: 1197: 1194: 1192: 1189: 1187: 1184: 1182: 1179: 1177: 1174: 1172: 1169: 1164: 1163: 1160: 1156: 1147: 1142: 1140: 1135: 1133: 1128: 1127: 1124: 1118: 1115: 1113: 1109: 1106: 1103: 1101: 1098: 1096: 1093: 1091: 1088: 1086: 1082: 1079: 1078: 1057: 1053: 1047: 1031: 1027: 1021: 1013: 1012: 1007: 1001: 993: 992: 987: 980: 966: 965: 958: 943: 942:www.45cat.com 939: 933: 925: 921: 915: 908: 904: 900: 897: 896: 890: 882: 881: 876: 870: 863: 862: 857: 853: 850: 845: 837: 835:0-00-653039-7 831: 827: 823: 819: 815: 809: 794: 791:Brown, Neil. 787: 779: 777:9781999900854 773: 769: 762: 755: 754: 749: 744: 742: 740: 738: 736: 734: 732: 730: 728: 720: 719: 714: 709: 707: 705: 703: 701: 699: 697: 695: 687: 686: 681: 677: 672: 670: 668: 666: 661: 653: 651: 647: 646: 641: 637: 633: 630:(MBE) in the 629: 619: 617: 616: 611: 607: 602: 600: 596: 592: 588: 578: 575: 573: 569: 566: 563: 558: 556: 552: 548: 544: 539: 537: 536: 532: 528: 524: 523: 518: 514: 510: 509:autobiography 506: 502: 497: 495: 491: 487: 483: 482: 477: 473: 468: 466: 462: 457: 455: 451: 447: 442: 440: 439:working class 436: 432: 428: 424: 420: 419: 418:The Comedians 414: 406: 402: 396: 386: 383: 381: 377: 376:Skegness Town 373: 368: 366: 363:, aged 19. A 362: 358: 354: 350: 346: 342: 338: 334: 329: 327: 323: 319: 315: 310: 308: 304: 301:in 1914 from 300: 296: 292: 288: 278: 276: 272: 268: 267: 262: 258: 257: 256:The Comedians 252: 247: 245: 241: 237: 233: 229: 225: 215: 212: 210: 208: 207:Skegness Town 205: 199: 195: 192: 190: 187: 181: 178: 171: 169: 164: 162: 159: 155: 150: 147: 141: 136: 133: 126: 122: 118: 111: 101:Date of death 99: 95: 91: 84: 71:Date of birth 69: 61: 56: 52:in the 1970s. 51: 50: 49:The Comedians 43: 38: 34: 26: 22: 1315: 1060:. Retrieved 1046: 1034:. Retrieved 1020: 1009: 1000: 989: 979: 968:, retrieved 963: 957: 945:. Retrieved 941: 932: 914: 894: 889: 878: 869: 859: 844: 821: 808: 796:. Retrieved 786: 767: 761: 751: 716: 685:The Guardian 683: 643: 635: 625: 613: 605: 603: 598: 590: 586: 584: 576: 559: 540: 533: 520: 512: 500: 498: 479: 475: 469: 458: 443: 423:Frank Carson 416: 410: 404: 393: 384: 369: 332: 330: 311: 284: 264: 254: 248: 223: 222: 172: 165: 160: 138:Youth career 106:(2006-09-02) 47: 25: 1342:2006 deaths 1337:1927 births 1256:O'Callaghan 986:"No. 55354" 970:27 February 947:27 February 610:Pye Records 589:(1972) and 562:Robertson's 529:'s popular 465:Gary Wilmot 461:Lenny Henry 401:Lenny Henry 365:centre-half 322:trench foot 318:greengrocer 271:catchphrase 132:Centre half 128:Position(s) 1331:Categories 1306:Warrington 798:21 October 656:References 622:Later life 581:Recordings 568:trade mark 312:After the 232:footballer 77:1927-12-23 1286:I. Snodin 1281:G. Snodin 1276:Sheffield 1251:Nicholson 1176:Coppinger 1011:BBC Sport 983:UK list: 905:from the 718:The Times 618:musical. 608:, on the 547:Salisbury 531:game show 427:Mike Reid 357:York City 202:1959–196? 184:1948–1959 123:, England 121:Yorkshire 96:, England 63:Full name 1316:Williams 1241:Lockwood 1108:Archived 1056:BBC News 924:Archived 899:Archived 880:BBC News 852:Archived 849:Obituary 820:(1998). 748:Obituary 713:Obituary 680:Obituary 595:Columbia 565:Golliwog 543:Rhodesia 446:heckling 398:—  372:Barnsley 349:colliery 303:Barbados 291:Barnsley 117:Barnsley 1311:Wellens 1301:Warboys 1296:Tierney 1266:Rankine 1236:Langton 1231:Kitchen 1226:Keetley 1216:Jenkins 1211:Jeffrey 1201:Goodson 1191:Douglas 1186:Doherty 1171:Bycroft 1166:Bramall 1062:25 June 1036:25 June 1030:Chortle 488:at the 452:" and " 378:in the 299:Britain 287:Royston 90:Royston 1221:Jordan 832:  774:  606:Ta Luv 1291:Stock 1261:Price 1246:Moore 1206:Gregg 1196:Emery 1181:Deane 591:Smile 454:coons 450:Pakis 337:Upton 236:black 157:Years 1271:Ryan 1085:IMDb 1064:2018 1038:2018 972:2021 949:2021 830:ISBN 800:2010 772:ISBN 505:BBC2 463:and 429:and 359:and 343:, a 259:and 167:Apps 161:Team 1083:at 907:BBC 678:, 642:'s 640:BBC 527:ATV 519:'s 517:IPC 503:on 456:". 403:in 263:'s 261:ATV 253:'s 228:MBE 196:(1) 193:151 175:Gls 33:MBE 1333:: 1054:. 1028:. 1008:. 988:. 940:. 877:. 858:, 828:. 824:. 816:; 750:, 726:^ 715:, 693:^ 682:, 664:^ 601:. 511:, 496:. 425:, 382:. 328:. 309:. 293:, 277:. 246:. 226:, 119:, 92:, 1145:e 1138:t 1131:v 1066:. 1040:. 951:. 838:. 802:. 780:. 177:) 173:( 79:) 75:( 23:.

Index

Charles Williams
MBE

The Comedians
Royston
South Yorkshire
Barnsley
Yorkshire
Centre half
Upton Colliery
Doncaster Rovers
Skegness Town
MBE
footballer
black
Second World War
stand-up comedian
Granada Television
The Comedians
ATV
The Golden Shot
catchphrase
Yorkshire accent
Royston
Barnsley
south Yorkshire
Britain
Barbados
Royal Engineers
First World War

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.